New Allentown race supports Hall of Fame relocation bid

As part of an effort to lure the US Bicycling Hall of Fame, Allentown, Pennsylvania, will host a pro race on September 9 through its downtown district. The inaugural event will feature a variety of categories and kids races tackling a 1 km loop as part of the Downtown Allentown Criterium.

''The primary goal here is to bring a little attention to downtown Allentown, and bring another high-quality event to downtown Allentown,'' said Joseph McDermott, vice president of the International Cycling Center and a former city spokesman to The Morning Call.

The US Bicycling Hall of Fame now lives in Somerville, New Jersey, but it suffers from a lack of funding and has no permanent display space. It now lives in several mobile displays at various tracks nationwide.

Spokesman and board member Rich Reitman said to the Hall of Fame would be housed, at least temporarily in the National Sports Museum being built in New York City. He added that the organization is considering Allentown although it would prefer to stay in Somerville, where it was founded.

''It can be located anywhere that is appropriate,'' Reitman said to The Morning Call. ''Among the appropriate places that we've talked about over the years, Allentown is certainly one of them. The area is a hub of cycling, as is Colorado Springs.''